Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images Maxi Kleber’s defensive impact in game two was undeniable. The lineup with him at the five to close may have saved the Mavericks the game. Maxi Kleber has this uncanny ability to step up when he is needed in the playoffs. As a steady hand in chaos, he becomes the weak side defender and switchable big most teams dream about. When a role player with his experience makes the right reads repeatedly, is an anchoring presence on defense with hustle plays - plus a threat on offense, he has the potential to be a difference-maker. And Maxi Kleber was j ..read more

Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images Dallas’ improved defense is why the Mavericks aren’t in a 0-2 hole against the Clippers There was a play in the fourth quarter of the Mavericks rousing Game 2 win against the Clippers on Tuesday night that stuck out as a good example of the Mavericks new and improved defense. It’s somewhat silly to say, but it was actually on a made basket and a likely breakdown in communication. Yes, stay with me. It was when Russell Westbrook canned a wide open three from the left wing with the Mavericks leading 81-73. It was a big ..read more

Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images After some early adversity the young forward showed true mettle when the Mavericks needed him most. The NBA game is entirely different from regular season to playoffs. Even if you’re a casual observer, it’s obvious that it’s a different beast. And it’s not just an uptick in quality opponents, intensity, or stakes. The style of play alters rapidly, with little time to get comfortable in its transition. So how does one respond when they have no playoff experience to fall back on, and when their team needs them most? Ask PJ Washington, who contributed ..read more

Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images The Mavericks have made it a series, let’s ask some questions Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Dallas Mavericks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. It’s time to take the temperature of all our loyal readers. How are you feeling about this series? Which center are you investing your faith in? What role player needs to have a big series? With things tied at 1-1 and heading to Dallas, this playoff series is j ..read more

Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images Mavericks even up the series 1-1 with a great defensive performance The Dallas Mavericks fought back to tie the series with the Los Angeles Clippers with a gutsy defensive performance, winning 96-93. Following that win, Josh Bowe and I went live on YouTube to try to process and make sense of a really grinding defensive battle. This one was a little bit hard to talk about in that it was such a back-and-forth battle, a lot of what happened on defense will require me to get a second look at what Dallas did that was so effective. The Clippers missed a t ..read more

Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports The Mavericks were able to pull away from the Clippers late and steal a win in L.A. The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday night in Los Angeles, winning 96-93. The series will now move to Dallas with the teams tied at one game a piece. It wasn’t exactly a must-win game for the Mavericks, but being down 2-0 to such a talented team would be almost impossible to come back from. The game was gritty from start to finish, with neither team able to push out to a big lead at any point. But eventually the Mavericks were able to string together some c ..read more

Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports The Mavericks even their first round series with a gritty effort to fight through offensive struggles The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Los Angeles Clippers on the road Tuesday night, 96-93. Luka Doncic was leading scorer for Dallas with 32 points. He also chipped in six rebounds and nine assists. James Harden and Paul George each had 22 in defeat. The Mavericks did not play well offensively. That is reflected in the total score and the shooting percentages. But man did they fight hard on the other end in a masterful defensive performance. The game began with both ..read more

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports Dallas needs to get a win in Los Angeles eventually, why not now The Dallas Mavericks trail the Los Angeles Clippers in the best of seven first round series. The two teams match up again on Tuesday night, the late game on TNT, starting at 9:00. Everyone drink your coffee, this is going to be a late game! Let’s get to the important stuff: WHO: Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Clippers WHAT: Playoffs? Are you kidding me?! WHERE: crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles California WHEN: 9:00 p.m. CST HOW: TNT and Bally Sports Southwest As far as the injury report goes, Ka ..read more

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports I’m in a glass case of emotion! Boy, that escalated quickly. I mean, that really got out of hand fast. It jumped up a notch. Before you could say, “You stay classy, San Diego,” the Los Angeles Clippers, who once played in San Diego, jumped out to a 29-point lead in Game 1 en route to a 109-97 win and a 1-0 series lead over the Dallas Mavericks. Almost everything that could go wrong did for the Mavericks. Eventually, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving woke up and mounted a comeback that would fall short. Too little, too late. While Doncic and Irving were able to sha ..read more

Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George (13) drives past Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (21) and forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) in the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena. | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports Just one game into the NBA Playoffs, the Dallas Mavericks appear to have lost the edge with which they ended the regular season. Just one playoff game in, have the Dallas Mavericks already lost their edge? The Mavericks rolled over against the Los Angeles Clippers in Sunday’s Game 1 loss, 109-97, a piss-poor performance for the ages at Crypto.com Arena. Gave the game away with a pi ..read more